The Office of Research Commercialization at Texas Tech University held its annual Inventor Celebration on October 16, recognizing faculty inventors and their contributions to bringing research from the lab into the marketplace. The event highlighted achievements in innovation across the university system and brought together faculty, university leaders, and community partners.
During the 2025 fiscal year, research commercialization efforts at Texas Tech resulted in 23 issued U.S. patents. Jennifer Souter, senior managing director of research commercialization, said, “With a record-breaking year of disclosure activity, 23 U.S.-issued patents and momentum growing across every campus, the Texas Tech System continues to advance the translation of research into real-world solutions. This celebration highlights the inventors who are shaping industries, creating companies and improving lives.”
Thirteen inventors were honored with patent plaques at the ceremony. The event also recognized members of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and announced winners in several categories: Emerging Inventors of the Year, Most Disruptive Technology, Deal of the Year, and Startup of the Year.
The Emerging Inventor of the Year Awards for 2025 went to Paul Egan from Texas Tech University and Alan Pang from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Egan is an assistant professor in mechanical engineering and directs a lab focused on 3D printing solutions for tissue engineering and medical devices. He stated, “I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Texas Tech innovation ecosystem, which is truly commendable in supporting inventors making a positive impact through research and entrepreneurship.”
Pang is an assistant professor specializing in burn, wound, critical care, and trauma surgery. He co-founded AIKO Healthcare Solutions—a startup participating in Texas Tech’s Innovation Hub Accelerator Program—which uses artificial intelligence models to help clinicians predict hospital stays and patient outcomes. Pang said, “I stand on the shoulders of those in the innovation and surgical community who came before me, whose support makes my successes possible. This recognition is not a statement of worthiness for me, but a representation of all those in my corner who allowed me to create something worth recognizing.”
Brenda Connor received this year’s Most Disruptive Technology Award for her work as professor of practice and senior technical managing director at the Critical Infrastructure Security Institute.
T2YourHealth, LLC was awarded Deal of the Year for its platform that provides early metabolic health screening along with personalized coaching using data-driven insights aimed at addressing metabolic disease.
Moonlight Therapeutics was named Startup of the Year for developing microneedle patch treatments targeting food allergies such as peanuts. The technology was invented by Harvinder Gill and Akhilesh Shakya at Texas Tech University.
